WWE Smackdown Live: The 10 for February 12, 2019

7. Gauntlet, part the third

Kingston’s third opponent was Samoa Joe, and that’s the place where things get scary. Joe has always been a violent menace, but he’s been even more so lately, taking his frustrations out on the likes of Ali to prove that he’s too dominant to dismiss. Joe enters the ring smelling blood in the water; yes, Kingston might have picked up two wins in a row, but he’s been fighting for nearly 40 minutes at this point. This should be easy pickings for the daisy-fresh and aggressive Joe.

Kingston, though, will not be ground down despite Joe’s best efforts. Joe grew visibly more and more frustrated with Kingston’s resilience, which was marked at one point when Kingston kicked out of a lariat at the count of one. But a frustrated Joe is a violent Joe, and he tries to not just push Kingston to his limits but to break him, both literally and figuratively.

It almost works, with Joe just about to completely lock in a Coquina Clutch. Kofi, using his speed to his advantage (and which he still possesses even at this point in the match), counters the Clutch and rolls up Joe for the win.

Remember, though: “a frustrated Joe is a violent Joe,” and there is no more frustrated a Joe than the one who does not win. Thus, Kingston pays for his victory after the match. Joe brutalizes Kingston and puts him in the Coquina Clutch outside of the ring, refusing to break the hold despite numerous officials trying to pull him off. It’s not until Kingston’s next opponent, A.J. Styles, comes down the ramp and attacks Joe does he let Kingston go.

Kingston, in a heap, has another match ahead.